The age-old Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland are the ancestral home of the Fadem family. Their name comes from the personal name Paidean. The Gaelic forms of the surname are Mac Phadein or Mac Phaidin, both of which mean son of Paidean.
The surname Fadem was first found in Kintyre, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Fadem research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Fadem History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Medieval spelling was at best an intuitive process, and translation between Gaelic and English was no more effective. These factors caused an enormous number of spelling variations in Dalriadan names. In fact, it was not uncommon to see a father and son who spelled their name differently. Over the years, Fadem has been spelled McFadyen, Fadden, Fadyen, Faden, McFadin, Fadin, McFadwyn, Fadwyn, McFadyean, McFadyon, McFayden, Feyden and many more.
More information is included under the topic Early Fadem Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Fadem family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Fadems to arrive on North American shores: Alexander, Andrew, Bernard, Catherine, Charles, Cornelius, Daniel, Dennis, Douglas, Edward, Fergus, Francis, George, Hugh, James, John, Michael, Patrick, Robert, Samuel, Thomas, William McFadden, who all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865. Andrew, Edward, James, Thomas McFaden settled in New Hampshire in 1718.